Sunday, 31 December 2017

Bayraktar class landing ships of the Turkish Navy

Written by D-Mitch

TCG Bayraktar (L402), lead ships of the Bayraktar class LST

There are very few countries today which develop and built modern tank landing ships (LST). Such countries are South Korea with the Cheon Wang Bong-class, Russia with the Ivan Gren class, China with the Type 072A class and Turkey with the Bayraktar class. Of these three classes, the largest, the most modern and most heavily armed, is certainly the Turkish Bayraktar class, which will be described thoroughly in this article. The first of the ship in the class was launched on October 3, 2015, and was commissioned just recently, in April 2017. The ship, which was designed and built for the Turkish Navy by Anadolu Deniz Insaat Kizaklari Sanayi ve Ticaret (ANADOLU Shipyard), was named Bayraktar (L402) replacing the old TCG Bayraktar, a LST-542 class landing ship/minelayer (and not LST-511 class as it is reported in many sources). The original contract signed in June 2011 for the procurement of two vessels with an option for two more ships and thus to replace the two 30-year old Bey-class ships. It should be mentioned that the Bayraktar was designed, built and commissioned in a period of just 46 months! Moreover, the domestic industry participation in amphibious ship construction is more than 70 percent! The second ship, TCG Sancaktar (L403) was launched on 17 July 2016 and will be commissioned the coming months. The ships of the class are
primarily intended for amphibious missions and transportation of troops and
equipment, while their secondary missions include humanitarian aid, disaster
relief, medical assistance and transportation. The ships of the class will also
serve as flagships and logistic support vessels.

The general characteristics of the class is a displacementof approximately 7,250 tons at full load, length of 138.75m, beam of 19.6m, drought of 5 meters (max), maximum speed of +18 knots and a range of 5,000n.m.
with the cruising speed of 15 knots. The vessels are powered by four 2,880 kW main diesel engines, driving
two controllable pitch propellers through twin shafts. The ships integrate one 500 kW bow thruster (or two?) and four 785 kW diesel generators
with a power management system that aid in low speed maneuverability when berthing and landing the vessel. The crew is 129 people while there is accommodation for 350 fully equipped marines plus flying crew and technicians. According to the manufacturer, a total of 566 bed capacity will be available on board.

Crew members in a daily workout routine on Bayraktar's flight deck

S-70 helicopter aboard the large flight deck of TCG Bayraktar

The ships have a quite large flight deck that could accommodate even a heavy-lift helicopter however the ships lack of a hangar. Additionally, each ship carries two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) which are lowered and raised by two small hydraulic cranes.

The LSTs incorporate an upper-intermediate-sized mono-hull design made of
steel. Each vessel is designed to meet the sea-keeping and stability
requirements of the Turkish Navy, and will have an anticipated service
life of 40 years. The ships will comply with the IMO MARPOL 73/78 and
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations. The ships can operate seamlessly at Sea State-5 conditions and can also be operated at Sea State-6 or higher, with
limitations. Additionally it will support limitless helicopter operations at
Sea State-4 conditions. The load carrying capacity is 1,180t, including a mix
of vehicles or cargo on open decks and specifically they are capable of
transporting up to 18-20 tanks in the closed parking area, depending on their size, and
between 24 – 60 vehicles on the open deck parking area.The closed parking area is 1100 square meters and
the open deck parking area is 690 square meters.

Modified photo of a Bayraktar class landing ship of the Turkish Navy. For a high resolution image click here.

The Turkish ships, except the very modern electronics
and sensors, carry also a heavy hard-kill and soft-kill defensive armament which will be described in the next paragraphs.

The vessels have one large stern ramp, a side ramp located on the port
side, and a large bow ramp (18 meters trifold bow ramp) that is lowered into place upon opening of
the two large bow doors. A fore draft of less than 2 meters makes the
ships suitable for beach landing operations. Four Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel (LCVP) that can achieve a maximum speed of 40 knots (!) are stowed on the open deck, and are lowered and raised by two large hydraulic cranes mounted just forward of the superstructure, one port and one starboard. Each LCVP can accommodate either 40 marines or 8 tons worth of vehicles and cargo. The LCVP are armed with two light machine guns installed on mounts.

Each vessel is equipped with two Leonardo (former OTO Melara) Single Fast Forty stealth turrets. The
Single FAST FORTY is a new generation naval weapon which fully satisfies the
requirements of full automation, quick reaction time, high reliability, easy
installation (no deck penetration required) and easy of maintenance. The
characteristics of the Single FAST FORTY make it particularly suitable for
operation against targets such as surface threats, fast attacking aircraft,
antiship helicopters and fast surface crafts (asymmetric warfare) as well as
for non lethal warning fire. This system is fitted with a 40mm cannon
characterized by a high rate of fire, high accuracy and two automatic
ammunition feeding system providing plentiful availability of two different
types of rounds ready to fire. In the Remote Control mode the Single Fast Forty
is linked to the ship’s Command Management System and excellent performance is
ensured by very short reaction time and high accuracy of control system. The
latest generation of digital architecture meets the requirements of modern
Combat Management System - LAN technology. In the Local Mode the Single Fast Forty is equipped of a modern Electro Optical System provided with a daylight
camera, high performance I.R. camera and Laser Range Finder. Local control can
be provided with a multifunction gunner console directly linked to the EOS. Additional
function such as ballistic prediction calculation (high accuracy computation
guaranteed by an on-board muzzle velocity radar) and target tracker are also
available. The system integrates a predictive ballistic calculation based on muzzle
velocity radar installed on the gun mount.

At the bow deck and on a raised platform, between the two gun turrets, a Raytheon Mk15 Phalanx Close-In-Weapon System (CIWS) is installed, a
very popular system worldwide in this role. Another such system is located atope the ship's superstructure and behind the mast. Phalanx is a rapid-fire,
computer-controlled, radar-guided gun system designed to defeat anti-ship
missiles and other close-in air and surface threats. As a self-contained
package, Phalanx automatically carries out functions usually performed by
multiple systems – including search, detection, threat evaluation, tracking,
engagement, and kill assessment. The Phalanx on the ships belongs to
the latest model Block 1B; the lead ship of the Bayraktar class LST, is the first Turkish warship that receives the Mk15 Phalanx Block 1B Baseline 2 configuration. The system is equipped with the stabilized
L-3 Brashear Forward-Looking Infra-Red - FLIR sensor (Electro-Optical Stabilization System
- EOSS), the automatic acquisition video tracker
and other improvements that are absent in the older models. The Block 1B version of Phalanx adds control
stations that allow operators to visually track and identify targets before
engagement. These improvements allow Phalanx to be used against helicopters and
high-speed surface craft at sea while the land-based version helps identify and
confirm incoming dangers.
Phalanx Block 1B CIWS has a 20 mm (0.79in)/99cal M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled
Gatling autocannon that has an effective range of more than 3.5km and a rate of
fire of higher than 4,500 rounds (!) per minute, thanks to a pneumatic
(air-driven) gun drive system, with a magazine drum holding 1,550 rounds. The
maximum range of the weapon exceeds the 5,500km though the maximum effective
range is close to 1,500 meters.

Except the 40mm guns,
for the purpose of asymmetric warfare and coastal defense, the ships are
equipped with two Aselsan
Stabilized Machine Gun Platforms (STAMP) with 12.7mm heavy machine guns. STAMP
incorporate advanced features, such as remote operation, built-in electro-optic
sensor system, day and night operation, automatic target tracking (detect,
track and fire on the move) stabilized turret and ballistic computation. The
infrared and daylight TV cameras of the system enable detection and recognition
of targets that would not be possible with naked eye. The system is capable of
ballistic calculation and automatically tracking the targets and enabling a
high hit probability by accurate firings. STAMP System has a stabilized turret
which enables the line-of-sight of the gun to be aimed at the target at all
times. Due to the stabilization feature, the system can perform precise firings
against stationary or moving targets while the platform is on-the-move. System
can be operated remotely by using the remote gun control unit and hence
provides gunner protection against counter fire. System has additional features
of defining firing zones both in azimuth and elevation.

The ships of the class are equipped with the British Ultra Electronics Sea Sentor
or else Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) system. The system consists of an acoustic
passive towed array, a towed acoustic countermeasure, a single-drum winch, a
processing cabinet, two display consoles, two expendable acoustic
device/countermeasures launchers (port and starboard) and 16 expendable
acoustic devices (8 in each launcher) typically one deployed to port
and one to starboard. The launchers fire their countermeasures using
self-contained high pressure air to simplify handling and installation.
Each barrel has an independent reservoir, which is sized to take account
of the worst-case environmental conditions and ship attitude. The passive acoustic towed array is
specifically designed to detect torpedoes and has additional in-built
non-acoustic as well as acoustic intercept sensors. Through advanced AI
processing it is able to generically identify torpedoes as well as classify
specific weapon types and modes and undertake threat evaluation and posturing
analysis. The system provides tactical advice dependent upon the specific
threat weapon, mode and posture to maximize vessel survivability, which
typically involves vessel manoeuvres and also includes the deployment of
countermeasures. The countermeasures - both towed and expendable variants -
lure the threat away from the vessel in a soft-kill manner by transmitting an
acoustic decoy signature in the water. The system equips also the Royal
Navy's Type 23 (Duke) class frigates, the Type 45 (Daring) class destroyers and auxiliaries.

Details of Bayraktar's superstructure.

Sea Sentor launching a decoy

ASELSAN HIZIR system

The Sea Sentor system
will be replaced in the future by the indigenous and more advanced Aselsan HIZIR. HIZIR is an advanced Surface Ship
Torpedo Countermeasure System composed of Towed Array, Towed Decoy, Winch,
Electronic Cabinet, Launcher and Expandable Decoy subsystems. The system is
integrated with the Sonar, Combat Management System and Ship Data Distribution
Unit. HIZIR system is capable of detecting torpedo threats from a distance required
for instant counter reaction. Using advanced Detection, Classification and
Localization algorithms, the system advises the operator the most suitable
tactic required to escape from threat. This includes an evasive maneuvering
advice for ship, related parameters and timings for towed decoy and deployment
time of expandable decoys.You can watch how the new system works in the
following video.

The decoy launchers are the BAE Systems Mk36 Super Rapid Bloom Offboard Countermeasures (SRBOC) Chaff and Decoy Launching System or an exact copy of them under license.
It is a shipboard, deck-mounted, 6-barreled 130mm mortar-type array
that launches type-specific countermeasures against a variety of
threats. Following launch and dispersion, Mk36 SRBOC chaff and infrared
countermeasures are designed to lure hostile missiles away from ships
under attack by creating false target sets. The Mk36 SRBOC launching
system is controlled from the ship’s combat management system (see last
paragraph), and it is dependent on information provided by the ship’s
detection and threat analysis equipment. The Mk36 SRBOC consists of the
Mk137 launcher, firing stations at the bridge and CIC, the Mk160 power
supply, Mk5 Mod2 or Mod4 Ready Service Lockers (RSLs), and a selection
of munitions. Each vessel of the class is equipped with four Mk137 launchers. The decoy launching system is linked to the ship's ESM, wind and navigation sensors.

Thee flight deck of TCG Sancaktar (L403)

The mast of TCG Bayraktar with SMART-S at the top of it.Photo by barmacode1

The vessels are equipped with the SMART-S Mk2 radar which is manufactured locally by
Aselsan under license. This system is Thales’s latest 3D multibeam radar that
operates in S-band (E/F-band) and it is optimised for medium-to-long-range air
and surface surveillance and target designation in littoral environments. The
latter consisting of a mix of sea, land, islands, coastal rains and
thunderstorms and a multiple of radar targets including small surface targets,
helicopters and anti-ship missiles. SMART-S Mk2 is extremely suitable as the
main air and surface surveillance radar in a one radar concept for light
frigates, corvettes and large landing ships. Pulse-Doppler processing enables
fast target track initiation and stealth target detection, even in a
cluttered environment. With its 2 main modes, 250-km range for air targets and
80km for surface targets, a track capacity of about 500 tracks, special
helicopter mode, surface fire channels, easy installation, high reliability and
easy maintainability, SMART-S Mk2 is one of the most advanced radars in its
category. Moreover, SMART-S Mk2 is an optimal sensor for target indication to a fire control tracking system. By providing 3D tracks the radar supports correct classification and rapid acquisition. On the system there is an integrated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) antenna.

Aselsan ALPER is a low probability of intercept (LPI) X-band
naval radar system for the detection of ​sea surface targets in all weather
conditions. Developed specifically for wartime navigation of military vessels,
ALPER's LPI characteristic is vital in detecting surrounding targets while not
being detected by enemy vessels. ALPER's design allows for integration with
Warfare Management Systems and existing navigation radars on the vessel, and
hence can be operated via a mutual console. The maximum
range of detection is close to 67km.

The ships carry two Sperry Marine (Northrop Grumman) VisionMaster FT S-band
navigation radars, some of the most advanced radars in this category. The systems offer a user friendly interface, an advanced automatic clutter
suppression for outstanding small target detection, target tracking capability
of 100 radar targets and 240 AIS targets, integrated route planning and trail
maneuver for safe navigation and multi-layer user defined radar maps. Automatic
clutter suppression technology makes it easier for watch keepers to identify
small, weak targets in the presence of sea or rain clutter without manually
adjusting gain or clutter controls. VisionMaster FT Radars automatically
acquire and track targets at relative speeds up to 150 knots, allowing the
watch keeper time to address any other requirements of the bridge rather than
manually acquiring targets. Targets can be acquired by either two annular
acquisition zones or two operator-configured polygon zones. Digital controlled
inter-switching allows the interface of up to six transceivers to up to six
displays, resulting in screen redundancy and flexibility in user operations. The
Dual-Channel option provides the ability to display data from two independent
transceivers onto the same screen and targets can be tracked on both channels.
The overlapping of the information from the two radars eliminates any blind
spots that may occur when a single radar is restricted providing unsurpassed
situational awareness. The aft VisionMaster FT radar is used mainly as a helicopter approach radar.

Aselsan's naval Laser Warning Receiver (LIS) is a state-of-the-art
threat warning system that equips the ships, responsible to detect, classify,
identify and give warning of hostile laser threats aiming on the platform. LIS
is designed to detect almost all of types of the laser threats available in the
world military inventory. Laser Range Finders (LRF), Laser Designators (LD) and
Laser Beam Riders (LBR) threats operating on various optical bands can be
detected by the system. LIAS is comprised of one Processor Unit and several
Sensor Units installed on the body of the platform. Each Sensor Unit has 90º
field-of-view in azimuth and ±40º field-of-view in elevation axes. At least 4
Sensor Units are required but this number can be increased to 8 depending on
the size of platform. Bayrkatars carry eight such sensors. With this approach total coverage of the platform is
guaranteed. Sensor Unit includes detector and after detector electronics to
detect the laser signals. Sensor Unit creates and sends the parameters of the
threat laser signals to Processor Unit. The Processor Unit gathers the
information from Sensor Units, evaluates the signal parameters and classifies,
identifies, tracks and declares laser threats to a host computer (such as
Electronic Warfare System - EWS) to be alarmed and displayed on the MMI.
Processor Unit can also perform the direct and immediate initiation of the
countermeasure (CM) system(s) if available onboard.

Each vessel of the class is equipped with a Selex Silent Acquisition and Surveillance System
(SASS) ES unit that uses a panoramic head developed for the passive
IRST mission. SASS is a long range, passive IRST for naval applications,
operating simultaneously in MWIR (3-5 μm) and LWIR (8-12 μm) spectral
bands. It is able to detect and track air and surface targets (about a
100) with full 360° horizontal coverage and to provide InfraRed (IR)
maps of the scene around the ship. It supports threat evaluation
providing a statistical classification of tracks. SASS has a modular
architecture based on a stabilised panoramic head equipped with IR
sensors and an electronic cabinet hosting the processing and control
units. Except SASS, the ships feature two Aselsan ASELFLIR-300D Advanced Targeting Systems, which are multi-sensor
electro-optical targeting and surveillance systems. ASELFLIR-300D System
consists of a Thermal Camera, a Laser Range Finder/Laser Designator, a
Laser Spot Tracker, a Color TV Camera and a Color Spotter Camera.

TCG Sancaktar with full armament. Photo by Pedro Amaral

Aselsan
ARES-2N. Photo: Aselsan

Within its operating frequency range (2-18 GHz) Aselsan
ARES-2N, the electronic warfare/countermeasures suite that equips the ships in the class, offers a wide
range of solutions for naval platforms. The system has the capability of
detecting, intercepting, identifying, classifying, tracking, Direction Finding
(DF), localizing, audio warning, platform correlating and recording the
electromagnetic emissions. It provides wideband intercept of radar signals;
single DF in wide frequency band and high signal processing speed facilitate
the processing of complex radar signals. A key feature of the system is its
precision parameter measurement and advanced emitter characterization
capabilities. The system can trace marked emitters automatically and locate
them. The system has high probability of intercept capability with its
wideband receiver architecture. The high processing sensitivity provides long
range detection capability and low LPI radar detection capability. Bandwidth
selectivity allows the system to be immune to the desensitization that occurs
in wide-open systems when CW signals or pulse Doppler signals are present in
the environment.​

Details of the superstructure and its rich electronic equipment. Photo: barmacode1

The Bayraktar class landing ships are equipped with the UNIMACS 3000 series
highly sophisticated Integrated Platform Control Monitoring System (IPMS)
developed by Yaltes, to maintain continuous and reliable operations, reduced
reaction time and simplify ship management. Main propulsion system, electrical
power distribution, auxiliary systems and other ship service systems are
controlled, managed and monitored by ICMS. The main systems integrated in IPMS
include a power management system, fire detection system, fire fighting and
damage control system, CCTV system and stability control system.

The two ships of the class; in the foreground the recently-commissioned TCG Sancaktar

Similarly to the MILGEM (Ada) class corvettes, which share some common equipment, the Bayraktars have a nationally developed network-centric
Combat Management System (CMS), the GENESIS (Gemi Entegre Savaş İdare Sistemi,
i.e. Ship Integrated Combat Management System), which is fully
distributed and collects information from all the sensors on board. GENESIS is
developed by Havelsan and originally used in the upgraded Gabya-class frigates
of the Turkish Navy. CMS processes this information and assigns weapons
accordingly. CMS also shares information with other units in the task force via
tactical data links. Bayraktar's CMS infrastructure consists of dual distributed
data bus covering the whole ship, and it's open system architecture is
upgradable to inherit new systems and capabilities. The CMS includes
operator consoles (OPCON) and tactical consoles (TACON), land-based test system
units, inter-console units, a commander unit and combat system video
network. In total there are five Operator Consoles (OpCons), two Tactical
Consoles (TaCons), one Commander Unit (COU) and eight Inter Console Units (ICUs). All these consoles were designed and manufactured by Yaltes. It should be mentioned that the ships are equipped with two command and control
centers (one for ship’s CIC and the other for joint amphibious command and
control purposes).

Among others, the Bayraktars are equipped with
Aselsan X-band SATCOM terminals, IFF system, GPS, LAN, ECDIS/WECDIS, HF,/UHF/VHF communication terminals and Link 11/16.
As said in the introduction of the article, the Bayraktarss are certainly high-tech landing ships with plenty of capabilities and superb defensive equipment that is not limited only to guns and the most advanced Phalanx CIWS ever, but also includes a large number of anti-torpedo and anti-missile systems. The Bayraktar class will certainly be the pride of the Turkish Navy amphibious warfare fleet until the delivery of the TCG AnadoluLanding Helicopter Dock (LHD). It can be assumed that two more ships will follow in the future, perhaps of an enlarged version that will replace the two remaining obsolete Bey class LSTs and thus in the 2020s the Turkish Navy amphibious landing force will consist of Anadolou, four Bayraktars (Block I/II?) and the upgraded Osman Gazi.